Alexander g



(No Model.)

A. G. JOHNSON.

MITBR BOX.

,842. Patented July 19, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

ALEXANDER G. JOHNSON, OF NFV YORK, N. Y.

NIITER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,842, dated July 19,1887.

Application tiled April (i, 1887. Serial No. 231828. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDERG. JOHN- SON, of Newl York city, county andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMiter-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to adjustable miterboxes, and aims to provide asimple and efficient miter-box of this class which may not only beadjusted to different angles, but may be set by the angles in the workitself for which it is desired to eut the molding, thereby insuringaccurate work. In addition to this, my invention aims to have theruiter-box foldable into a compact space when not in use, and at thesame time render the construction light and inexpensive.

To this end the main feature of my invention may be stated to consist inconstructing the frame or base of the box of a series of jointed barsarranged in the form of lazytongs, the opposite ends of which preferablyterminate, respectively, in a salient and an entering angle, with postsarising from the center and outer joints of the, tongs forming theguides for the saw, whereby any desired angle may be obtained, accordingas the tongs are opened or closed more or less. In connection with thisI use an L-shaped platform or ledge to hold the molding, which ledge tsover the lazy-tongs, and is provided with an underlyingl longitudinalgroove which engages three projections on the center joints of thelazytongs, which are always in line, the middle projection forming aguide-post which rises up through a notch in the ledge, so that when themolding is'plaeed against the ledge it may be sawed at the desired angleby passing the saw through the notch in a line coincident with themiddle pos't and with one of the outer posts on the outer angles of thelazy-tongs.

My invention therefore lies in the main features above outlined, and incertain minor features in connection therewith, as hereinafter fully setforth.

In the drawings annexed, Figure-1 presents a side elevation of myimproved miter-boX. Fig. 2l is a plan view, and Fig. 3 an inverted planview, thereof. Fig. l is an inverted plan of the box folded orcontracted. Fig. 5 isa sectional end elevation in the folded position7with the ledge or platform separated from the lazy-tongs.

Referring to Figs. l and 3, it will be readily seen that the foundationframe or base of the miter-box consists of a number ot' bars, o b,jointed together in the form of lazytongs, which may therefore be placedatY different relative angles, according as the tongs are extended orcontracted, oropened or closed more or less, as shown by full and dottedlines in Figs. l and 2. The bars arc of course jointed at all angles orintersections by rivets or other means, so as to have free movement, inthe usual manner of lazy-tongs. From two of the outer angles or joints,however, there arise two posts, c c, which posts, as shown in Figs. land 5, are prolongations of the pivot-pin or rivet of said joints, suchpivot-pin being secured immovably in one of the under bars, a., andturning freely in the other bar, b, as will be understood. From t-hemiddlejoint of the tongs arises a third post, d, in a similar manner, asshown best in Figs. 1,2, and 5. Now, the middle post, d, with the outerposts, c c, form the guides for the saw, determining the angle at whichthe saw-cut will be taken, and it will be readily understood that as thetongs are contracted or extended the angle of the outer posts with themiddle post will be varied, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, sothatany desired angle may be thus obtained. The guide-posts c d arefitted with rollers e for contact with the sides of the saw, and whichrender the movement of the saw more easy. In order to form a proper restor guide for the molding while being cut,I provide an L-shaped platformor ledge, F, which fits upon the lazytongs, as shown best in Figs. 1, 2,and 5. Atv

the middle of the upright abutment ,r/ of this platform is formed anangular notch, f, into which the middle post, cl, rises through ahole,i, at the base of the notch. A` longitudinal groove, 7s, is formed inthe base of the platform F, underlying the abutment g, and in line withthe hole t', for thepost d, and into this groove ts the two projectionsZ m, which rise from the central joints of the tongs, at eachend'thereof, as shown. It will now be seen that the projections Z m andmiddle post, d, will be always in line with each other, no matter howfar the tongs are extended or conmoldings.

traeted, and hence they will always fit the groove lc, and therefore theplatform will always rest truly and securely on the tongs, at whateverangles the tongs are set to place the outer posts, c, at any desiredangle with the middle post, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Now, to hold thetongs at any desired angle to which they may be set, a clamp is providedat one of the joints to clamp the same firmly when so set. This clamp ispreferably formed at the projection l, which is in fact the head of aclamp-screw, the stem of which passes loosely through the bar b of thetongs, and screws into thebar a, so that after the tongs are moved tothe desired angle the clampscrew may be tightened up, and will thus holdthe tongs firmly at said angle.` A hole, p, is bored through the head ofsaid clamp-screw for the application of a wrench pin or bar, whereby thescrew may be forcibly tightened or loosened in making the desiredadjustments; but the screw-head may be formed in any other way for thereception of a wrench or screwdriver, or may be knurled for operation byhand. rIhe opposite projection, m, may also be a clamp-screw, like theprojection Z; but it is preferably a fixed rivet `or stud, the head ofWhich forms the projection, While the stem passes loosely through thebar b and isriveted in the bar a, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Only one of the projections Z or m is necessary to act as a guide in thegroove 7c, in connection with the post cl,- butboth projections lm arepreferably used.

In making the desired adjustments of the box it will be understood thatit is only necessary to raise or slip the platform off the tongs, thenloosen the clamp Z and set the tongs at the required angle, after whichthe clamp Z is tightened and the platform replaced. The molding to becut is then placed on the platform F and pressed up against .the ledgeg, while the saw is passed through the notch f and guided up against theposts d C, which will thus enable the molding to be out at the angleAdesired.

By referring to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be noted that the bars ofthelazy-tongs are so terminated at the opposite ends that the bars form asalient angle at one end and an entering angle at the opposite end, andthese angles at the ends will of course always be of the same degrees asthat which the central post makes with the outer posts, c. It willtherefore be seen that the boX may b e readily set by the angles of theWork itself for which it is desired to cut the molding. For instance, ifthe angle is a corner-that is, a hollow or entering angle-then thesalient end of the lazy-tongs may be placed in such corner, as shown bydotted lines on the left of Fig. 2, and. the tongs thus adjusted l untilit matches with said corner, when the proper angle will b e obtained forcutting the It', on the other hand, the angle of the work is salient,then the opposite end of the lazy=tongs may be adjusted thereto, asshown on the right of Fig. 2. In this way the utmost and then placingthe platform F over the same, so that the central hole, t', fits overthe central post, d,while two additional holes, r r, (see Figs. 2 and3,) engage the posts c c, as shown by full and dotted lines in Figs. 4.and 5. In this condition it may be conveniently placed in the tool boxor chest until again required, and will thus occupy much less space thanother ruiter-boxes.

rlhe bars of the lazy-tongs are preferably made of steel orwrought-iron; but they may be made of malleable iron or other material.The platform F is preferably made of wood; but it may be made of metalor other material. that my invention presents several advantages insimplicity and cheapness of construction, ease and range of adjustment,and em- It may therefore be now appreciated ticular detailsofconstruction herein shown;

but j What I claim as my invention is-' I. A miter-box formed of aseries of bars jointed together in the form of lazy-tongs,`

with posts rising from the middle and outer joints to form guides forthe saw, substantially as herein set forth.

2. In a miterbox, the combination, with a base frame in the form oflazy-tongs, of guideposts arisingvfrom the middle and outerjoints,forming angular guides for the saw, and a clamp at one of the joints tohold the tongs as adjusted, substantially as and for the purpose setforth. Y r

3. In a miter-box, the combinatiomwith the lazy-tongs ab, of posts d c,arising from the middle and outer joints thereof, and rollers-ve on saidposts, substantially as shown and described.

4. In amiterfboX, the combination, with a base-frame in the form ofcontractible and expansible lazy-tongs, of guide-posts arising from themiddle and outer joints of the tongs, and an L-shaped or angularplatform fitted upon said tongs in line with the center thereof,substantially as shown and described.

IOO

IIO

5. The combination, in a Vmiterbox, withx25 eemz .3

the platform F, having the notohfaud groove tongs terminated,respeobively,in asalienteud k, arranged and operating substantially asan entering` angiqsubstantiallyns and for the 1o shown and described.purpose seb forth. .7. An im roved miter-box formed with a y 5contraebiblepaud expansible frame in the form ALEXANDER G" JOHNSON' oflazy-tongs, with guide-posts rising from Vibnesses: the joints of thetongs to form guides for the JNO. E. GAYIN, saw, with the bars atopposite ends of said CEAS. M. HIGGINS.

